Pathfinder FAQ

Girls Empowerment Network’s Pathfinder Leadership Summit is a personal and professional development program aimed at giving rising 9th-12th grade girls a head start on their road to independence, college and career. Attendees will uncover their strengths.

• Find their unique strengths.
• Develop real world skills like interviewing and public speaking.
• Explore different industries and professions.
• Gain access to women leaders and professionals in the area.
• Create bonds and friendships with like-minded peers.

In 2019, GEN will run the 5th Annual Pathfinder Leadership Summit from Monday June 3rd- Friday June 7th, 2018.  Pathfinder Leadership Summit will consist of weekday sessions Monday through Thursday from 9am – 5pm and Friday from 9am-10pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Pathfinder 2019 will take place at Girls Empowerment Network, 3000 S IH 35, Suite 400, Austin, TX 78704. M We will also visits local companies during the week with transportation provided by GEN. Parking will be available free to participants in our office parking lot.

 

 

Pathfinder is open to young women that will be in grades 9-12 during the 2019-2020 school year. There is an application process and candidates must be selected into the program in order to enroll. You can find the application here.

 

Yes! You can follow us on Twitter here or “like” us on Facebook here. Check us out on Instagram also under @GirlsEmpowermentNetwork.

To apply for Pathfinder, complete an online application. The application must be completed in one sitting; it’s not possible to save it online. Please note that you will be asked to answer a few short-answer questions. To reserve a spot in the program, a deposit of $100 will be required upon acceptance, unless eligible for a full scholarship, then the deposit will be $25. The last day to apply for Pathfinder is Friday, May 31st, 2019.

This being our 5th year we are expecting to get a large number of applications. Strong applicants who have solid communication skills, a willingness to learn and grow and the ability to work well with others. Once accepted into the program, young women will find Pathfinder to be a supportive, welcoming environment. Our vision is to create a cohort of young women who encourage each other to take risks and grow with the support of each other.

 

 

There is room for up to 32 young women in the Pathfinder Leadership Summit.

 

 

 

At Pathfinder, young women will learn about themselves and develop skills to help them as they transition into college and beyond. They will answer questions such as, “What are my strengths?”, “What is my path,” and, “how can I use my interests and strengths to pursue a successful career on day?” They will learn from expert presenters, panel discussions of women leaders from different industries, and college-aged mentors. Topics covered will include leadership, public speaking, interviewing skills, networking, resume writing, stressbusters, entrepreneurship and more!

 

We are in the process of lining up presenters. We have connected with a lot of women in leadership roles in various industries and they are all excited about the program! There are so many women in the community who are a wealth of knowledge and we can’t wait to connect them with Pathfinder participants! For a list of presenters, see the Featured Presenters and Activities page of our website.

 

Yes! While we don’t want young women to join the program solely for the purpose of enhancing their college applications, we also know that young women are looking for ways to stand out in the college application process. Pathfinder participants will receive a certificate at the completion of the summer leadership summit. In addition, they will have valuable experiences, stronger skills and increased self knowledge that we hope will inspire and enhance college essays and interviews.

The Pathfinder Leadership Summit was developed based on hours of interviews and focus groups with executive women leaders, parents, school counselors, high school students and college students. They were asked many questions, most importantly, “what do today’s high school girls need to know to be strong leaders?” The content and structure of Pathfinder is based on what we learned through these interviews. We are excited about offering young women in high school unique opportunities to gain the self knowledge and skills that will help them succeed in whatever life and career path they choose to follow.

 

Yes! All participants will have the opportunity to stay connected via an online community and monthly workshops. Everyone will have access to a database of women to contact for informational interviews throughout the year.  We expect that participants will make long-standing, valuable professional contacts as well. Our vision is that Pathfinders will support each other throughout high school and beyond. We’d love for the program to continue to grow so that Pathfinder becomes a resource for past participants as they go through college and then navigate professional life after college.

 

 

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. We know that everyone’s life and career will take unexpected twists and turns. That’s part of the challenge, and also part of the fun of it all. Young women who participate in Pathfinder will leave with more confidence, self knowledge, and skills to make big things happen in their lives. They will be inspired to take risks and live authentically. We believe everyone is on her own unique path. Pathfinder programming is designed to help participants see their path more clearly while building important skills to achieve successes.

 

Not at all. We are designing fun, hands-on activities and bringing in dynamic presenters to share useful, relevant information.

 

Pathfinder costs $450 per participant. There is a scholarship application located on the 3rd page of the application.

 

For $450, participants will receive a one day retreat, five full days of programming, ongoing access to women leaders for informational interviews, an ongoing online community with discussions and inspiration, and access to volunteer opportunities with GEN. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day.

Yes, we offer full and partial scholarships. If you are interested in Pathfinder and cannot afford the cost, please be sure to fill out the scholarship page in the application.

 

The scholarship application is on the 3^rd page of the online application. Be sure to complete the appropriate questions on the application and we will let you know about the status of your scholarship along with your acceptance.

No. We will not make acceptance decisions based on whether someone applies for a scholarship. However, we cannot guarantee scholarships to everyone who applies for one.

Yes! Lunch will be provided. We will try to accommodate food preferences and allergies, although participants with specific dietary restrictions may want to bring their own food.

Thank you for your interest! You can donate to GEN on our website or reach out to our Chief Development Officer, Ami Kane at ami@girlsempowermentnetwork.org.

 

If you are interested in presenting at Pathfinder, please contact Blair Stirek at blair@girlsempowermentnetwork.org.

 

 

Yes! Our outreach has mostly connected us with women, but we welcome men to join us, too.

We are currently accepting applications for college interns to help with Pathfinder. More information is available at the Volunteer page on our website.

 

 

We would love your help in spreading the word at your school, youth group, service organization, etc . For details about how to help us share information about Pathfinder, contact blair@girlsempowermentnetwork.org or call us at (512) 808-4044 ext. 106.

 

Please email blair@girlsempowermentnetwork.org.

 

 

You can contact the Pathfinder team at blair@girlsempowermentnetwork.org or (512)808-4044.

Si necesita ayuda en español o mas informacion, por favor contacte Claudia (512)808-4044 ext: 108, claudia@girlsempowermentnetwork.org.